Bible instructors have dedicated themselves to the service of God for the saving of souls in this the world's last hour. The specific task to which we have been called is to teach the Word of God in its fullness, and with Paul we should be able to say, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). Every day the Bible instructor comes face to face with men and women who may live to see the Lord come in all His glory. Their eternal destiny may depend upon how we teach, pray, and live before them.
The world today is in dreadful confusion—politically, economically, socially, and religiously. In this confusion there must be a clear and distinct voice pointing men and women to the only remedy, which is given in the full gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Said Isaiah, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isa. 55:7). Forsake sin and return to the Lord with all the heart—this is the only way for mankind to secure peace and eternal salvation.
The human race resents the fact that it is sinful and that there is need of repentance. It is much easier and more pleasant to speak of other things, therefore there is too little conviction of guilt before God. Man must be brought to a realization of the awfulness of sin and the anger of a loving God against that which so degrades and destroys His creatures. He must learn of the terrible judgments pronounced against the continually rebellious. If he is not made conscious of his sins he will not feel the need of forgiveness. But when he realizes his own sinfulness and the extent of God's love for sinners, the Holy Spirit will move him to seek pardon and reconciliation.
In the great revivals of the past the voice of stern rebuke against sin was heard very definitely. John the Baptist cried: "Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" He warned that God had said, "The axe is laid unto the root of the trees," and that they would be hewn down and cast into the fire unless fruits for repentance were brought forth. (Matt. 3:7, 10.)
John Bunyan's Pilgrim left his home and family because he was "certainly informed that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven," and unless "some way of escape can be found whereby we may be delivered," they would all perish. This consciousness was a reality that remained with Christian day and night, and finding no way of escape, he fled from the City of Destruction in search of life.
In the great reformation of the sixteenth century it was the sense of sin and punishment from God that made Luther's message of forgiveness and justification through grace so welcome to sinners. "It is so deep and horrible a corruption of nature that no reason can comprehend it, but it must be believed upon authority of the revelation in the Scriptures. . . . It can be restrained by no law or punishment, even though there were a thousand hells; only the grace of God can purify and renew the nature."—Martin Luther, p. 353, translated by Henry Eyster Jacobs.
Concerning the days of John Wesley, it is stated: "The sense of sin was faint; and with it had grown faint, too, the doctrine of a divine and redeeming Christ."—W. H. FITCHETT in Wesley and His Century, p. 142. In such an atmosphere Wesley preached, and of his message we read: "Wesley had, as few men ever had, the sense of sin and its hatefulness: a vision of the divine law—holy, stainless, august--dishonoured by sin."—Ibid., p. 132. "No other preachers painted sin with colours so dark, and yet so true to human consciousness, as did the men who carried this message."—Ibid., p. 272. On the other hand, "None depicted God's love in Christ in such radiant sunshine, or proclaimed Christ as a Saviour in tones so confident."—Ibid.
When in God's own time men were called to proclaim the judgment-hour message, sinners were brought face to face with sin and the judgments of God against the sinner. There were no more touching words in all William Miller's preaching than his pleadings with sinners to forsake their sins and find salvation before the door of mercy would close. If possible, read Miller's sixteen lectures printed in 1836. Those who read these pages find that as sin was shown to be "exceeding sinful," the hearts and consciences of men were touched, and great revivals took place among the people.
There is a deep longing in the heart of many of God's people today for another revival among us. The Spirit of Prophecy says, "Today there is the need of stern rebuke; for grievous sins have separated the people from God." —Prophets and Kings, p. 140. When the sinfulness of sin becomes a reality we shall once again see a revival that will ripen the harvest of the earth for its reaping. Remission of sins, justification, and acceptance by God must find their rightful place in our teaching and ministry. The church is weak to the extent that it allows these truths to be overshadowed by other things of less importance.
Of Luther's times we read: "The church had fallen, because the great doctrine of justification by faith in the Saviour had been taken away from her. It was necessary, therefore, before she could rise again, that this doctrine should be restored to her."—D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation (translated by H. White), book 1, chapter VI, p. 29.
The last message of mercy to go to the world presents the most fearful judgments that God has ever pronounced against a guilty generation. May we so teach that sinners will forsake their ways and find in the love of our dear Saviour the forgiveness and healing that will restore them to God's favor.
